Behind the Public Veil
The Humanness of Martin Luther King Jr.
- History & Biography
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2016
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Publisher's Description
What was Martin Luther King Jr. really like? In this groundbreaking volume, Lewis V. Baldwin answers this question by focusing on the man himself. Drawing on the testimonies of friends, family, and closest associates, this volume adds much-needed biographical background to the discussion, as Baldwin looks beyond all of the mythic, messianic, and iconic images to treat King in terms of his fundamental and vivid humanness. Special attention is devoted to King’s personal insecurities and struggles, his humility and affinity to common people, his delight in pleasant and passionate conversation, his insatiable love for the precious but ordinary things of life, his robust appetite for artfully-prepared and delicious soul food, his enduring appreciation for music and dance, his cheerful and playful attitude and spirit, his abiding interest in games and sports, and his amazing gift of wit, humor, and laughter. King emerges here as an ordinary human being who enjoyed and celebrated life to the fullest, but was never bigger than life. Here we see the personal qualities of King—as a real, fleshly human being—and also as a man shaped by his social and cultural experiences and locations. This book reclaims the man behind the mythology.
Endorsements (3)
“Lewis Baldwin illuminates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s rich personal life in all of its strengths and foibles. His immersion in the Black Baptist Church tradition and first-hand experiences with Deep South segregation augment his scholarship on King. Behind the Public Veil is a respectful, insightful celebration of a life too often portrayed as impossibly super-human.”
“This brilliant and fascinating book is based on more than thirty years of research and teaching on Martin Luther King, Jr, and it fills a longstanding void in the biography genre of King studies while also strengthening the cultural-historical category. Written by the top King scholar, Behind the Public Veil will appeal to both the specialist and the common folks for whom King cared so much.”
“With meticulous scholarship, Lewis Baldwin lifts the veil on perhaps the greatest American of the twentieth century and exposes us to his humanity in different dimensions. Behind the Public Veil is a rare examination of King's personality. This book reveals the man behind the mystique.”
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